Shoe-sole laying mechanism



Oct. 11, 1938. J. M. ROHRER SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l mm w W. 0 v\. 0 a 6 8 L J F .4 n 0- Z. 5 x w E Q m m y fin: w I a W M a J v M pwi g z 0t.11,193s. MROHRER 2,132,440

SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 26, ,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Illlllll i5 m. n

[ umxa Oct. 11, 1938.

J. M. ROHRER SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I OCt. 1l, 1938. J. .ROHRER- I 2,132,440

. SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 l WWW I 7'5 I//////// iii: 49

ct, M, W33. J. M. ROHRER 2,132,440

SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 I UNITED,STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 26, 1933, Serial No. 686,937

a Renewed December. 14, 1937 h V 29 Claims. My invention relates to the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to that part of such.

sole to a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition.

The main object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for applying soles to lasted uppers, such soles being held to the lasted uppers by a suitable cementi which may constitute the only retaining means or be preliminary to a sewing operation to retain the sole in final position.

A further. object of the invention is to provide means whereby the projecting portion of an upper confined toa last" in pulled-over and stretched condition and retained in such condition may be spread outwardly with respect to the last just prior to the application of the sole.

A further object of the invention is to apply a sole to the out-turnedportion ofthe upper.

A further object of the invention is to provide clamping means for holding the sole in place against the upper while the latter is retained upon the last in pulled-over and stretched condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for placing such clamping means in position with respect to a lasted upper having a por tion out-turned, immediately following the operation of the means which effects such out-turning of the projecting portion of the upper.

' And a still further object of the invention is to provide means for releasing the clamping means after it has performed its function of causing the sole to properly adhere to, theupper.

'These and other features of my invention are more fully set forth hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of mechanism for applying soles to lastedv uppers disposed in pulled-over and stretched condition, in accordance with my present invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the sole-applying means and means for out-turning a projecting portion of the upper, in the open and inactive position.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating progressively the means for and the manner in which the projecting portion of the upper maybe out-turned and the sole applied to the lasted upper oversuch out-turned portion;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views on a larger scale of the carrier for the out-turning fingers and the support for the same.

' Fig. 11 is a plan view of the clamping element and the carrying means therefor whereby it may be presented to the support in which the lasted upper is mounted.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line XII--X[I, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an inverted plan view of the clamping element, showing the position of the sole .to be applied to the lasted upper;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the mold or support for the lasted upper, showing the out-turning means 7 in position to act upon the projecting portion of the upper.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the support for the lasted upper; theprojecting portion of the upper in the out-turned position, and the sole applied thereto.

My present invention comprises improved soleapplying mechanism and the method of operating the same, which mechanism may be used with the improved sectional mold and the means associated therewith for holding a lasted upper therein, set forth in my pending applications filed October 9, 1930, and October 31, 1931, Serial Numbers 487,535, and 572,342, respectively.

In'the present instance I have provided means for out-turning the portionof the upper projecting above the last when the latter with such upper in pulled-over and stretched condition is clamped to or within a suitable support or the mold referred to; means for applying a sole to the out-turned portion of the upper and to which such sole is subsequently stitched; means for clamping the sole to such out-turned portion, and means for releasing the sole clamp from carrying mechanism so that it maybe held in position with respect to a support (or the mold) receiving the lasted upper until the sole has set. The mechanism for effecting these several operations is disposed centrally above the support for the lasted upper or the sectional mold and in such operative position with respect thereto thatit may be lowered into position by the operation of means manually or mechanically actuated, with supplemental means for actuating the outturning mechanism operated independently of the mechanism employed to lower such outturn'ing mechanism and apply the sole clampin this condition and to which it may be clamped,

I prefer to employ a sectional mold such as that described in the pending applications referred to. In this condition, the upper has a portion projecting above the last all around the same, and in carrying out one part of my present invention, this projecting portion is to be outturned and flattened down with respect to the last so that the sole may be applied thereto.

A table, carrying a suitable support or the sectional mold referred to and indicated at [0, is

shown at H; such support, orthe sectional mold,

receiving a last A, with an upper B, pulled-over and stretched thereon. When the sectional mold I is employed for the reception of the lasted upper, levers l2, as in the structure set forth in my pending applications before referred to, serve to hold the sections of said mold in clamping position with respect to the upperpulled-over and stretched upon the last contained within the same. These levers H. are held in clamping position by springs I3, and a treadle M is employed to retract such levers to permit opening of the sectional mold when it is desired to remove the lasted upper to which the sole has been applied after the latter has been finally clamped in position. The lasted upper has been deposited in the support or the sectional mold from pulling-over mechanism, which may be of the character illustrated in my pending application filed September 29, 1931, Serial No. 565,815.

A standard l5 may be disposed at one side or the rear of the table and connected therewith by the angle bracket I6; such standard'preferably upper end of the standard I5 may carry a sup-' port IT, in the present instance in the form of a plate, and this plate serves for the reception of means to which links and levers employed with the mechanism forming the subject of my present invention may be attached.

Centrally disposed above the mold ID or other support receiving the lasted upper, and suitably j ournaled and/ or guided in bearings carried by the plate H, is a vertically movable rod or shaft 2|, preferably counterbalanced by a weight 22, to which it may be connected by a chain or cord 23 passing over pullies 24 supported by the plate ll. This rod or shaft 2| may be raised and lowered manually, and for this purpose I provide a lever 25, connected to said rod at 26, and fulcrumed at 21 to a swinging link 28, which may be pivotally connected to an arm 29 supported by the plate It will be understood, of course, that I may employ other means for raising and lowering the rod or shaft 2|, and that power means, fluid pressure for instance, may be employed to effect this movement.

The vertically movable shaft or rod 2| carries a fixed collar 36, having a fiange 3|, which may be of substantially the same contour in plan as the mold or other support receiving the lasted upper, and this flange supports a plurality of depending levers 32, pivotally connected therewith at 33, which levers may be swung on their pivots toward and from said rod 2|. To eifect this movement, this rod may carry a movable collar 34 of the same character as the collar 30, to which these levers 32 are connected by pivotally mounted and adjustable links 35. The collar34 may be raised and lowered by means of. a hand lever 36, which is iulcrumed at 31, to a link 38, pivotally connected at 39 to the fixed collar 3|? or to the flange 3| of the same. When this hand lever 33 is raised, the lower ends of the depending levers 32 are moved in, andwhen the hand lever 36'is lowered, the lower ends of the levers 32 are moved out to a position substantially that indicated in Fig. 2.

In the present instance, the levers 32 are six in number, and they are disposed in such position that the out-turning means, carried by the lower ends of the same and hereinafter described, may be properly positioned to accommodate themselves to various parts of the projecting portion 1) of the lasted upper that is to be out-turned. Each of the levers 32 carries at its lower end a box-like member 40, supporting a series of springpressed resilient or flexible fingers 4 I, four in the present instance, which fingers are spaced apart in the manner indicated. These fingers are preferably in the form of slender wires. As the construction is the same in each instance, only one of the box-like members carried at the ends of the levers 32 will be described. The fingers 4| are carried by a cross-bar 42, journaled in the side walls of the box-like member, and such cross-bar is held by springs 43 so that in their normal or' inactive position, the flexible fingers project downwardly as clearly illustrated in the drawings, being held against undue movement 'bya stop 40% Eachbox-like member is carriedby a yoke 44, pivotally'connected at to the lower end ofa lever 32 between a foot portion 45 thereof and a projecting arm 41 which may parallel such foot portion; being held in properly adjusted position by a set screw 48 adjustable in said foot portion 46, and a spring 49 interposed between the arm 41 and the yoke 44 carrying such box-like member.

The levers 32 are lowered with respect to th sectional mold I!) or other support in which the lasted upper is mounted, with the fingers 4| in the inwardly disposed position as shown in Fig. 4, and the inner and free ends of the fingers may contact with the sole portion of the last inwardly of the projecting portion b of the upper, as shown by broken lines Fig. 14. This positioning of the flexible fingers 4| may be effected by lowering the levers 32 by pulling down the vertical shaft or rod 2! (upon operation of the lever 25). To bringthe fingers 4| into final position for effecting the out-turning of the projecting portion b of the upper, as shown in Fig. 6, which operation is efiected just before the sole is applied to the lasted upper, the following mechanism may be employed. Pivotally mounted on the plate I is a lever 5|], fulcrumed at 5|, and the end of this lever is connected at 52 to a link 53, the opposite end of such link being connected at 54 to a lever55, pivotally connected to the plate I! at 56, while the opposite end of said last-named lever is connected at 5'5 to a link 58, which is connected at its lower end to a treadle 59. The lever 25 carries a latch 6fi,'having'a projecting pin 6|, and this pin-carrying latch may be actuated by a trip consisting of a handle 32, pivotally connected at 63 to the grip of the lever 25, and a wire or other connecting element64 connected to the latch a spring 55 being employed to restore the latch 6|! with its pin 6| to normal position. When the lever 25 is pulled down to lower the levers 32, the operator pulls down on the handle 62 and through the means noted, the pin-carrying latch 6!] 'is raised so that the pin 6| may pass the end of the lever 50. When it is desired to impart further lowering movement to the lever 25 to bring the fingers 4| into closer engagement with the orother support, and these sections (or such sole of the .lastand. to apply the sole and the clamping means for holding the. same in place, the treadle '59 is actuated 'andfthrough-themechanism described, said lever 50 islowered against the pin 6| operatively connected to the-lever 25, and the latter has the desired further'movement imparted thereto to further lower the rod or shaft 2| and the levers 32 operatively connected there'- with and supporting theout-turning fingers 4|. Following the operation of out-turning the projecting portion of the upper, thefsole is applied thereto, and this'sole may be carried by. a frame attached to the lower end of'the rod or shaft 2|. This mechanism includes a plate 66 which may have depending fingers 61 to embrace the sections of the mold and lie between the levers |2-which hold the mold in the closed position. The plate carries a bar 68 arranged longitudinally of the same and having guide pins 68 passing through such plate and retained by cotter pins. This bar, and with it the plate 66, is operatively supported with respect to said rod or shaft 2| by means of releasable latches 69, pivoted'at 10 to a frame 1| secured to thelower end of said rod or shaft. The bar 68 is maintained in proper relative position to" permit application of the plate 66 to the lasted upper by means of armsH of the frame 1|, which arms are recessed at to receive the same; 'The bar 68 is supported with respect'to the plate 66 by springs 66 so that it maybe slightlydepressed with respect to said platefor the purpose of releasing the latches 69, on the one hand, and for clamping such plate 66 with the bar 68-to the sectional mold, on the other hand, as hereinafter described. Just before the rod or shaft 2| is finally'lowered to release the latches 69 so that the plate 66 may be clamped to the 'mold, the hand lever 36 is raised, and this action swings the levers 32 on their pivots and withdraws the flexible fingers 4|.v 'As these fingers are withdrawn from a position such as thatillustrated in Fig. 6, they pull or out-turn and press down the projecting portion b of the upperand lay the same over thetop of the sectional mold or other support for the lasted upper. The clamping plate 66 is now to'be lowered into place. Before this plate is lowered into contact with the mold and the lasted upper therein, a sole C of the desiredsize', having its under surface coatedwith cement, is placed beneath a sole block 13, secured to the underside of the plate 66 by screws 14; such sole being frictionally held in temporary position against such block by a series of sm'allspri'ng-pressed pins '15 carried thereby which engage the edge of such sole. This sole will be of a shape to substantiallyfit the lasted upper to which it is applied and/or the out turned portion of the same and to which it will be subsequently sewn. The flexible fingers 4| preferably have. their ends annularly grooved asindicated'at 4 l to assist engagement with the projecting portion b, and their slenderness and separated condition insures that they will not remove an excess of the cement applied to the underside of the sole, since such fingers may contact with such surface as'they are withdrawn.

Afterthe fingers 4| have been withdrawn and carried down over the'end'sections of the mold support) have projections IO with which said latches ll automatically engage when the sole-' carrying plate 13 is lowered onto the out-turned or other portion of the lasted upper. When engagement of thelatches 11 has. been effected, the rod or shaft 2| may be raised, carryingaway from'the mold the frame II and the levers 32 with the flexible fingers 4| at the lower ends of the same. This raising of the rod or shaft 2| is efiected'by operating the lever 25, and in doing so, the pin-carrying latch 60 is actuated so as to pass the end of the lever 50. After the plate 66 with the sole-block 13 has been clamped to ,the mold or other support, the levers l2 holding the mold in closed position may be released by oper-' ating the treadle l4; such mold (or support) may be removed fromthe table, and another mold therewith. Upon depressing the rod or shaft 2| to a further extent to depress the bar 68 by operating the treadle 59, the latches 11 at the ends of the clamping plate 66 may be manually released from the projections ||l at the ends of the mold or other support and then, upon raising said rod or shaft 2| by operating the lever 25, the sole-applying and clamping means will be lifted. The mold is then opened and the lasted upper with the sole cemented thereto is removed, and a fresh lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition is placed in the mold; the sections of the latter are closed around the same, and the steps of applying a sole after the projecting portion of the upper has been flattened down proceed in the manner heretofore described. i

As it may be desirable at times to release the latches 69' from the bar 68, thereby permitting removal of the clamping means from the rod or shaft 2|, I may provide a loose collar 80, mounted on said rod or shaft above the hub of the frame 5|, such collar. having arms 8| which may bed the type indicated, carrying bars 82 which under lie extensions 69 of said latches. This collar 1 may be manually raised for such purpose and is guided by a pin 83 carried by the hub of the frame 1| so as to be maintained in proper relative position. i 5

While my improved sole-clamping means is particularly applicable for association and operation with the mechanism employed for the purpose of out-turning the projecting portion. of the lasted upper, it will be'understood that the clamping means per se may be employed for the purpose of applying soles to lasted uppers which have such projecting portion wiped. over. an insole; a lasted upper of the character'resulting from a wiping operation SUCILTOI instance, as

that prepared by wiping mechanismv of any suitable character, or that forming the subject of my application for patent filedDecember 30, 1931,

Serial Number 583,943.

After a sole has been applied to the out-turned portion of a lasted upper and cemented thereto, such sole may be sewnin place after a welt ofusual type is applied-over such out-turned portion opposite the sole. When a sole is applied to a lasted upper having the projecting portion wiped inwardly over an insole carried by the last, such sole may be sewn to such insole through the wiped portion of the upper in the usual manner common in the manufacture of shoes.

While I have referred more particularly to the application of a wear sole to the prepared lasted upper, whether of the character having the projecting portion of the upper wiped inwardly over an insole carried by the last, or of the character with the projecting portion of the upper outturned, it will be understood that in either or both instances, and particularly in the instance f the lasted upper having its projecting portion out-turned, thesole applied may be a so-called slip sole, which may be sewn to the upper, and to which a wear sole may be subsequently sewn. In both instances, a welt of usual. type will be applied to the out-turned portion of the upper opposite or above the sole when considering the shoe in the position of use, and such welt will be sewn in place simultaneously with the stitching of the wear sole.

While I have shown manually operable levers for raising and lowering the rod or shaft 2|, and

manually operable means for moving the levers 32 inwardly and outwardly; the latter movement effecting the out-turning of the projecting portion of the upper through the medium of the flexible fingers, it will be understood that these operations may be eifected by power means fluid-pressure-for instance, or other power employed in the operation of mechanism in the shoe machinery art.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the mechanism disclosed, to which my invention is broadly related, and such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; of means for flattening said projecting portion; and means for applying a sole to said flattened portion of the upper and for clamping. said sole in place upon such upper.

2. The combinationwith a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; of means for out-turning said projecting portion; and means for applying a sole to said out-turned portion of the upper and for clamping said sole in place upon such uppen 3. The combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; of means for out-turning said projecting portion with respect to the last; means for applying a sole to said out-turned portion of the upper and for clamping saidsole in place upon such upper; and means for removably connecting said clamping means to said support.

4. The combination with a sectional mold receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last and mold; of means for outturning said projecting portion with respect to the last; means for applying a sole to said outturned portion of the upper and for clamping said sole in place upon such upper; and means for removably connecting said clamping means to said mold.

5. The combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the sole portion of the last; of a sole-carrying clamp for applying a sole to said projecting portion of the upper; and latches carried by the clamp for engaging the latter with the support.

' 6. The combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; means for out-turning said projecting portion of the upper; a sole-carrying clamp; means for bringing said clamp into engagement with the mold to apply a sole over said out-turned portion of the upper; said engaging parts being cemented together, and means detachably connecting the support and clamp.

'7. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism; the combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-overand stretched condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last outturned upon the support; of a vertically movable frame; a clamping element carrying a sole; detachable latches connecting said frame and clamp; means for releasing said latches; and means for attaching the sole-carrying clamp to the support. r

8. In a structure such as set forth in claim 7; manually operable latches at the ends of the clamping element; and projections carried by the support to which said latches may be secured.

9. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism; the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; of a plurality of flexible out-turning fingers; and

means for moving said fingers over the projecting portion of the upper to out-turn and flatten the same. a

10. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism; the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over condition, such upper having a portion projecting above the last; of a plurality of flexible out-turning fingers; means for positioning said. fingers over the lasted upper; and means for moving said fingers across the projecting portion of theupper to out-turn and flatten the same. a

I 11. In a structure as set forth in claim 9; a frame carrying the out-turning fingers; means for simultaneously lowering said fingers; and means for simultaneously moving said fingers over the projecting portion of the upper to out-turn and flatten the same.

12. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism; the combination of a vertically movable frame including a series of levers; resilient fingers carried by the lower ends of saidlevers and adapted to be. lowered upon a last over which an upper has been stretched'and supported, said upper having a projecting portion; a lever for lowering said frame; a second lever adapted to be placed in operative engagement with the first-named lever; and a treadle for actuating said second lever to efiect further lowering of the frame.

13. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism; the combination of means supporting an upper in pulled 15. In a structure such as set forth in claim 14.;

means carried by the clamping member for holding the mold sections in place.

16. In a shoe-sole-applying device; the combination of a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, said upper having a portion projecting above the last; a plurality of sets of resilient fingers positioned above said support; means for moving said fingers into position with respect to the sole surface of the last over which said upper is stretched; means for lowering said fingers into contact with said last; means for moving said fingers outwardly to flaten such projecting portion; and means for applying a sole to the out-turned portion of the upper after said fingers have been withdrawn.

17. In a shoe-sole-applying device; the combination of a sectional mold receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, said upper having a portion projecting above the last and the top of the mold; a plurality of sets of resilient fingers positioned above said mold; means for moving said fingers into position with respect to the sole surface of the last over which said upper is stretched; means for lowering said fingers into contact with said last; means for moving said fingers outwardly to lay such projecting portion over the top of the mold; and

. means for applying a sole to the out-turned portion of the upper after said fingers have been withdrawn.

18. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a plurality of flexible fingers positionable over said projecting portion of the upper, and means for operating said fingers to flatten said projecting portion.

19. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a plurality of sets of flexible fingers, supports in which said fingers are mounted, means for imparting movement to said supports whereby the fingers may be positioned to overlie the projecting portion of the lasted upper, and means for simultaneously moving said sets of fingers to out-turn and fiatten the projecting portion of the upper.

20. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a plurality of flexible out-turning fingers disposed around the lasted upper, means for positioning said fingers over said projecting portion of the upper, and means for moving said fingers across said projecting portion to flatten the same.

21. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last,

of a plurality of sets of flexible out-turningfingers, supports in which said sets of fingers are mounted, means for simultaneously moving said supports whereby the fingers may be positioned to overlie the projecting portion of the lasted upper, and means for simultaneously eiiecting movement of said fingers across said projecting portion to out-turn and flatten the same.

22. The combination with a support receiving a lasted upper in pulled over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the sole portion of the last, of a solecarrying clamp detachably connected with said support for applying a sole to said projecting portion of the upper.

23. The combination with a support receiving a last-ed upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the sole portion of the last, of a solecarrying clamp detachably connected with said support for applying a sole to the projecting portion of the upper, and springs carriedby said clamp for pressing said sole in place and holding the same in position.

24. The combination with a self-contained and portable sectional mold receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, of soleapplying and clamping means detachably connected with said mold and portable with the same.

25. The combination with a mold receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, of sole-applying and clamping means detachably connected with said mold, and means for releasing said clamping means from the mold aft-er a sole has been applied to a lasted upper.

26. The combination of a mold receiving a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, lugs carried at the ends of said mold, a sole-applying clamp positionable over the mold, means for depressing said clamp over the lasted upper, and pivoted latches at the ends of said clamp for engagement with said lugs to detachably connect the same with the mold.

2'7. In shoe-sole-laying mechanism cooperative with a support for a lasted upper having a projecting portion, the combination of means for out-turning said projecting portion, and soleapplying and clamping means arranged to function immediately following the operation of the out-turning means; said sole-applying and clamping means having a common support.

28. In shoe-sole-laying mechanism, the combination with supporting means for a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of means for out-turning or spreading said projecting portion, means for applying and clamping a sole to said out-turned portion, and a common 

